Momentos to Bring Home From Lisbon

~A guide to shopping in Portugal's capital for old-world mementos that are

sure to make you want to pack an empty bag—or two!~

Portugal's charming capital, Lisbon, is an ancient city steeped in history and beauty. Travelers can explore winding alleys and cobblestone streets leading to hilltop castles, ancient marble fountains, and any of seven spectacular miradouros overlooking the city. Fado melodies fill the air as people emerge from the majestic doors of timeworn bars, and the scent of roasting chestnuts can be smelled for miles. Street vendors cook the ancient snack over a fire on their carts and roll sheets of newspapers into cones counting out a dozen into each one.

Exploring Lisbon is like stepping back in time to a bygone era. Over two years of living there before moving to New York and now traveling back three times a year due to marrying a Lisbonite, I can certainly say I’ve explored the city and been lucky enough to get an insider’s view into its many cabinets of curiosities.

The city has changed quite a bit in the last few years. It's become more contemporary yet it still retains an old-world charm. That old-world charm can still be seen in a handful of centuries-old shops that have been in the same family for generations and hold beautiful treasures with stories to tell, craftsmanship traditions inherent to Portugal, and delightful packaging. Who doesn't want to return home with a suitcase stuffed with treasures reminiscent of their travels?

Here, our recommendations for where to shop for objects that are quintessential Portuguese so you can bottle up a bit of old Portugal (perhaps literally!) and bring it home with you.

---

Gloves from a Bygone Era from Luvaria Ulisses

Walking through the art-deco door of this tiny century old shop dedicated solely to gloves is to be transported. There was a time when goods were always behind a counter so that you could be personally waited upon hand and foot -- in this case hand. Luvaria Ulisses holds onto this tradition. A cheery attendant sizes up your hands just by looking at them from the other side of the counter and retrieves a pair of soft, supple leather gloves and opens them on a peculiar antique wood apparatus. Once your exact sizing is confirmed, you will have thought these gloves were molded just for you and you’ll be dreaming up a suitcase full of colors and styles to take back home with you. Luvaria Ulisses is the epitome of traditional leather glove craftsmanship.

Luvaria Ulisses has been in this business since 1925. It is the last shop in all of Portugal dedicated solely to the sale of gloves. Shopkeepers attend to just one or two guests at a time, giving you their undivided attention. Since the shop is so tiny, you may need to wait outside for at least 10 minutes to get inside. Once you pick the perfect custom gloves, they will set you back around 65 Euros complete with a pretty silk bag to take them home. The raw material and production of the custom-made gloves are done in-house.

Suggestion: if you live in a colder climate, opt for their cashmere lining. They’re BEYOND luxurious!

Phone number: +351 213 420 295

Address: Rua do Carmo, 87-A

Website: http://www.luvariaulisses.com/uk/

---

Porcelain From Vista Alegre

Vista Alegre is a porcelain company dating back to 1824 and is best known for its artistic design, incorporating Portuguese culture and collaborations with world renowned artists. The shop is located in Lisbon's trendiest neighborhood, Chiado, and is housed in a charming 19th century building adorned with beautiful tiles.Vista Alegre produces its decorative porcelain, stunning dinnerware and crystals in one of four factories located in the central region of Portugal.

Our personal favorite collection is the one featuring calcada. If anything reminds you of Portugal when you reminisce on your travels, it's the calcada - the artistic black and white mosaic stones you won’t be able to miss as you stroll along the breathtaking streets of Portugal. There's an espresso coffee set that we had to get our hands on as soon as it was released - it features the most prominent calcada in Lisbon. The collection has expanded to include treys, a cake stand, a sugar box and everything you need to entertain your friends who come by to hear all about your travels.

Phone number: +351 213 461 401

Address: Largo do Chiado, 20-23

Website: https://vistaalegre.com

---

Traditional Crafts From A Vida Portuguesa

A Vida Portuguesa is a charming shop playing tribute to Portuguese-made objects with stories to tell and manufacturing techniques that haven't changed in a hundred years. Here you can find infamous tasty ginjinha (sour cherry) liqueur, ceramics, throws, jewelry and everything in between stocked in old wooden cabinets once used by an old perfume factory.

We especially recommend picking up a divine bar of Claus Porto bath soap, a nice set of

gold filigree earrings for that special woman in your life, and a tablecloth with Viana do Castelo A Vida Portuguesa is a charming shop playing tribute to Portuguese-made objects with stories to tell and manufacturing techniques that haven't changed in a hundred years. Here you can find infamous tasty ginjinha (sour cherry) liqueur, ceramics, throws, jewelry and everything in between stocked in old wooden cabinets once used by an old perfume factory.We especially recommend picking up a divine bar of Claus Porto bath soap, a nice set of gold filigree earrings for that special woman in your life, and a tablecloth with Viana do Castelo embroidery.There are currently five A Vida Portuguesa shops throughout Portugal, four of which are in Lisbon. Our favorite is the original shop, located in Chiado and housed in an old warehouse and perfume factory David & David..

There are currently five A Vida Portuguesa shops throughout Portugal, four of which are in Lisbon. Our favorite is the original shop, located in Chiado and housed in an old warehouse and perfume factory David & David.

Phone number: +351 213 465 073

Address: Rua Anchieta, 11

Website: https://www.avidaportuguesa.com

---

Candles From Caza das Velas do Loreto

This quaint candle shop can easily go unnoticed as you stroll the streets of Lisbon but it's worth making an effort to find because as you step inside, it's like you're back in the year 1789, the year of the shop's founding. This is actually the oldest continuously operating candle shop in the whole world. I mean, how cool is that? Upon entering, you'll find hand-carved wooden arches filled with rows and rows of shelves displaying handmade candles behind glass. We love the sleek pillar candles.

Phone number: +351 213 425 387

Address: Rua do Loreto, 53/55

Website: http://cazavellasloreto.com.pt/pt

---

Modern Ethical Clothing From a Portuguese Brand Housed at Embaixada

Embaixada is a shopping space in a grand 19th century Moorish-style palace that houses a number of shops as well as a restaurant. Our favorite stop on the second floor is the Fair Bazaar, which carries sustainable and ethical fashion brands, including Portuguese ones like Naz

Phone number: +351 965 309 154

Address: Praça do Principe Real, 26

Website: https://www.embaixadalx.pt

---

A Blanket From By Stro

By Stro is a modern Portuguese company making timeless wool and cotton products in one of the country’s oldest textile factories, with sustainability at its core. The company makes blankets, scarves and house slippers using traditional Portuguese techniques and historic patterns. They make an effort to cut out waste and decrease negative environmental impacts in the supply chain while supporting local communities. Each product has a fascinating story behind it, like the ‘Papa Blanket’ which had been used by shepherds for centuries for shelter against the cold in the Serra de Estrela mountains, Portugal’s highest peak. The blanket is made using fleece from an Iberian breed of sheep which is teaseled to make the blanket extra thick and warm. By Stro has reinvented the traditional blanket by using new color schemes.

Phone number: +351 212 497 130

Address: Rua da Escola Politécnica, 80A-80B

Website: http://www.by-stro.com

---

Sustainable Goodies From the AmazingStore

If you're trying to live more sustainably, that is, trying to create less waste, this is the shop for you. AmazingStore carries everything from clothing, to sunglasses, to USB pens and all in sustainable fiber such as bamboo, cork and wood, all from companies from around the world. There are a few locations, with the latest one opening in Baixa.

Phone number: +351 212 446 743

Address: Rua da Prata, 86

Website: https://www.amazingstore-pt.com

#Portugal #sustainablefashion #Lisbon #ethicalshopping #artisan